LAS CRUCES – Bodies were sparse at some positions during New Mexico State's spring practice period.

Among the walking wounded was sophomore linebacker Terrill Hanks, who registered 81 tackles as a true freshman at strong side linebacker last year. Hanks underwent shoulder surgery following the season and missed spring practice, but he's one of a laundry list of players who were either projected starters going into 2015 or who missed significant time last year who are ready for fall camp on Aug. 4.

"I'm good to go and the shoulder is fine," Hanks said. "I wasn't too worried about missing spring. I learned more sitting out and watching other players at my position and the defense as a whole and was able to pick up more than if I was out there playing."

Aggies head coach Doug Martin said the Aggies are nearly completely healthy following the summer. Sophomore linebacker Javahn Fergurson and sophomore receiver O.J. Clark are still question marks. Fergurson had surgery to repair shin splints in both legs and Clark broke his leg against UTEP and was limited in spring practice.

"(Fergurson) probably won't be fully cleared by the time we start two-a-days but by our first game, he will be fully cleared," Martin said. "If he is healthy and cleared, he will play and that is what we are expecting."

Hanks emerged as a playmaker early on as a freshman, forcing a fumble in Week 1 against Florida. He tied for the team lead with three interceptions to go with sack and 6.5 tackles for loss.

"Now I know that I can play at this level against this competition," Hanks said. "I came in late last year so I didn't get a full summer of workouts but I feel like I'm in the best shape of my life."

Hanks was cleared in June but was limited to leg workouts as he rehabbed from shoulder surgery. The 6-foot-2 Hanks said he enters his sophomore season at 228 pounds after closing his freshman season at 217 pounds.

"It's not that different, but there has been a lot taken off my plate so I can play strictly linebacker," Hanks said.

But defensive linemen Stody Bradley (shoulder), Derek Watson (shoulder), Kalei Auelua (knee) and Brandon Agomuo (ankle) will be on the practice field after returning from injuries they suffered last year. All three players were projected starters prior to last season. Bradley played in 10 games last season and should remain in the rotation at defensive end as a junior in 2016 while Auelua and Agomuo will have to compete against younger players such as Jassavia Reese and Cedric Wilcots on the edge. Senior middle linebacker Robert Wagner is also expected to be ready for fall camp after suffering a knee injury in spring practice.

On the offensive line, junior Thomas McGwire is in line to start at right tackle, but knee injuries the past two years and then again in the spring have kept him off the field. McGwire is healthy entering camp, but the Aggies signed two junior college linemen to strengthen the offensive line.

"Thomas has played a lot but the only problem is he has been hurt a lot so he has to be able to stay on the field," Martin said. "That is why we recruited (6-4, 310-pound) Brayton Medina (from Glendale Community College). We see him as a true tackle and we needed a little more depth at the tackle position and he gives us an older guy."

Aggies add punter to address glaring need

Handing out scholarships to punters is a necessity at a school like New Mexico State.

"If you are going to get a quality kicker or punter, you have to scholarship them," Martin said. "If you are a power conference school, they might get a walk-on and then give them a scholarship if they win the job. You have to scholarship those guys now and they are valuable enough to do that."

Stephen Witkowski showed promise as a freshman in 2014, but he returned to his native Australia last year and left a hole at the position. Anthony Torres was a rugby style punter who averaged 40.61 yards per punt last year with 13 kicks over 50 yards. But Torres was inconsistent at times, often putting a weak defense on the field with a short field to defend.

Martin signed Peyton Theisler from Phoenix as part of the 2016 class.

"My biggest goal is to make the team better," Theisler said. "I think I can give the defense better field position and make the other team drive."

Theisler said he is a pro style punter. Former NFL punter Rich Camarillo is an assistant coach at Desert Vista High School.

"I didn't commit until I came on my visit but I like what Coach Martin has going on here," Theisler said. "It's starting to be a healthy program and I wanted to be a part of that."

Sun Belt honors handed out this week

The Sun Belt Conference will announce the preseason coaches poll on Thursday at noon and the preseason all-conference selections will be released at noon on Friday.

Sun Belt Media day is on Monday in New Orleans and Hanks and junior running back Larry Rose III will join Martin in representing NMSU.

Sports Editor Jason Groves can be reached at 575-541-5459. Follow him on Twitter @jpgroves.